Carton with cam-latching lid



June 28, 1966 s. GREATMAN CARTON WITH CAM-LATCHING LID 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed March 29, 1965 JWEMmE SIDA/E l EJREATMAM ;%nm-

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June 28, 1966 s. GREATMAN CARTON WITH CAM-LATCHING LID 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed March 29. 1965 United States Patent O 3,258,187 CARTGN WITHCAM-LATCHING LID Sidney Greatman, Canoga Park, Calif, assignor to A & EPlastik Pak Co., Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of CaliforniaFiled Mar. 29, 1965, Ser. No. 443,715 13 Claims. (Cl. 2292.5)

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application,Serial No. 359,184, filed April 13, 1964, for a Container withCam-Latching Top.

This invention relates generally to display cartons for a plurality offragile packaged objects, such as a dozen eggs, packed in a cartoncomprised of mating bottom and lid halves, each formed to provideseparate cellular compartments for the packa ed objects. The inventionis particularly concerned with such a carton in which the bottom is madeof a relatively thick-walled and rigid material such as molded paperpulp or plastic foam, usually having a varied wall thickness; while thetop is made of a relatively thin-Walled, resilient and transparentmaterial, usually formed from a plastic sheet of uniform thickness.

More particularly, the invention relates to such a carton in which thelid and bottom are elongated and are formed with mating structural andlatching parts along the opposite long sides, so that the resilience ofthe entire lid and the rigidity of the bottom co-act to produce aresilient latching action without resort to holes in either lid orbottom, and without resort to fragile deflectable projection.Preferably, said lids are formed to nest with one another withoutunwanted locking, prior to assembly with the bottoms, and to feedreadily from a nested assembly of lids through a lidding machine on tosuccessive bottoms.

A multi-celled egg carton is the most common application for such adesign, but the utility of the invention is not restricted to eggs or tofood, since it may be useful in the selling, transport, or storage, of aplurality of packaged objects of any kind, within a carton providing acellular compartment for each object.

Heretofore, the mass production packaging of eggs has utilized a cartonmade entirely of molded paper pulp, the top and bottom being formed toprovide two rows of six cells each to accommodate a dozen eggs. Such eggtrays have proven themselves to be better protection for the eggs thanthe various cellular egg cartons constructed of cut and foldedcardboard, and the like, and have practically displaced the non-moldedtypes. However, like its predecessor, the all-pulp carton entirelyconceals the packaged eggs from the view of the prospective purchaser.The purchaser cannot tell, from a mere visual inspection of the eggcarton, or of a display of many such egg cartons, whether any of theeggs are broken, 'whether any are missing, whether they are large orsmall, and whether or not they are of a color and appearance whichappear appetizing to him.

In this respect, the egg carton has not kept pace with many other foodcartons employed in self-service grocery retailing. The displayrequirements of self-service grocery retailers, through whom most foodis sold, has caused the development in recent years of many food cartonsand containers employing transparent plastic tops, through which thecustomer may appraise for himself the size, color, and condition of thecontained food, as well as making it possible to determine readilywhether or not the carton contains a full count.

It has been proposed to package eggs in such a carton, combining amolded paper bottom with a transparent plastic lid, which mate with eachother at an equatorial mating plane. In such a carton, the entire upperhalf of the egg may be inspected, not only from above but 3,258,187Patented June 28, 1966 from the sides, when many such cartons arestacked in a filled condition.

Unfortunately, there are a number of points of conflict in designrequirements for a carton for eggs or the like, constructed for housingthe bottom half of the packaged objects in a molded paper pulp bottom,having substantial thickness and rigidity, while housing their upperhalf in a transparent plastic cover, which provides good visibility ofthe packaged objects. As a result, none of the designs of this type,heretofore proposed, has found wide market acceptance.

For example, in the all-pulp carton presently in general use, both lidand bottom could be formed in a single operation as a single unit, andjoined entirely along one side with a paper pulp hinge. Closure meanswas provided by any of a variety of paper cover retainer constructionswell known to those familiar with the design of paper cartons, and apaper seal was usually applied. However, when a transparent plastic lidis used, top and bottom must be formed entirely separately, andsubsequently assembled one to the other.

The molded paper pulp bottom material and the transparent formed plasticlid material have radically different material properties. The moldedpulp can be formed with many variations in thickness, so as to providereinforcement in zones of stress. It is suited to the formation ofcones, hollow posts, or columns, doubled-walled partitions, etc., but itis not well adapted to thin walls which are subjected to repeatedflexing. Indeed, the molded paper carton functions bests as a softsurfaced but rigid unit in which no part is intended to be deflected innormal use, since deflection ,will normally result in tearing of thefibers, weakening of the pulp structure, and deterioration of the piece.On the other hand, a molded pulp bottom employing double wallsthroughout most of its construction and designed for use in which nopart undergoes any substantial bending or deflection, exhibits amazingstrength and durability during repeated handling, and provides excellentprotection for lightweight fragile objects such as eggs.

The transparent plastic is elastically resilient. It may be manuallydeformed with case, but is toughly resistant to tearing (if notperforated) and will snap back into its original shape when a deformingforce is removed. The plastic lid can be scalloped or corrugated aroundthe side walls to provide it with a certain amount of crushingresistance to forces imposed from the top, but, in general, it is themolded paper bottom which must be relied on for protection of the eggs.

A combination of paper pulp bottom and transparent plastic top haspresented an entirely new set of attach- -rnent problems. At first, thetwo components were formed with mating hinge means along one side andwere then manually assembled. Since such cartons must be fabricated inthe millions and at a cost of only a few pennies per carton, at most,even a small amount of manual labor on each carton makes its costprohibitive. In addition, none of the hinge means found in the prior arthave proven satisfactory in use.

A variety of other attachment means have been attempted. Most of thesehave involved an evolutionary development of the attachment means usedin paper cartons or in all-plastic cartons. For example, units have beenmade with small molded plastic hooks adapted to project through holes inthe molded paper carton. The difficulty with this type of construct-ionhas been that the molded paper pulp material does not wear well whensubjected to the abrasive action of a hook on the side walls of a holethrough the molded paper material. After only a relatively few uses,sometimes only one or two, the pulp material around the hole is sodamaged that secure attachment is no longer possible.

Moreover, the plastic hooks formed in the lid material are inevitablyfragile, since they must be long enough and thin enough to pass througha hole in the bottom. The most practical way of fabricating thetransparent plastic lid is to blow-mold it from a thin sheet of plastic;any projecting hook or tube of thin diameter formed from such materialis necessarily too weak to stand de flection more than once or twice.

A reversal in construction, using holes in the plastic lid, and upwardlyprojecting paper pulp hooks has proven equally unsatisfactory. Theintroduction of any holes into the plastic lid makes it vulnerable totearing. Any design which relies on some deflection of the upwardlyprojecting pulp hook is unreliable because the paper pulp lacks anytolerance for resilient deflection.

A similar difiiculty has been encountered by those who attempted tosimply snap a lid flange over the edges of the pulp carton at the planeof mating between bottom and cover. The mating flange edges have merelydisintegrated after a few uses, leaving the cover substantiallyunattached.

Naturally, the presence of any moisture substantially weakens the pulp,although it has no substantial elfect on the plastic. Many designs ofthe prior art have attempted a variety of means of attachment by holesin the plastic, or by metal attachment means, or by adhesive. All haveproven unsatisfactory for use in display cartons such as the egg cartondescribed. Holes in the plastic, or use of metal attaching means, resultin tearing of the plastic, despite its toughness, and the loosening ofthe attachment. Adhesives lose their adhesive quality after two or threeuses.

Indeed, no satisfactory carton has been produced in which both top andbottom were complete upon being formed, did not require any furtherassembly, were readily snapped into attachment with each other withoutthe use of any holes in either top or bottom, and which could be openedand closed repeatedly without destructive wear and tear, and withoutlosing the security of attachment upon closure.

In my parent patent application, Ser. No. 359,184, all of the foregoingproblems were solved, but an entirely new set of problems arose when itwas attempted to develop automatic machinery for filling and closing thenew carton. In order to be of maximum commercial utility, the bottom andlid design must be such that the lids, following fabrication, can benested with each other, prior to use, without becoming so interlockedthat denesting is diificult.

For example, where the plastic lids are blow-molded from bi-orientedpolystyrene sheet, by far the most practical method of forminginexpensive lids, the cost per [id at the point of emergence from theblow-molding ma- :hine can be kept at a competitive value. However, as.hese fragile lids are stacked, they tend, in previous designs, to nestwith irregular spacing, and to interlock vith each other, in someinstances, and to become damtged, bent, and torn, in being transportedfrom the moldng machine, stored, and then used at some distant egg-:ackaging plant to cover cartons. Actual tests indicated hat the cost ofbringing a certain number of lids from molding machine to position ontop of a bottom filled with a drozen eggs cost more than the cost ofmaking he lids themselves.

Moreover, extensive testing has revealed that no plas- 3c lid heretoforeknown could be handled by any reasonbly practical form of automaticlidding machinery. Liding machinery in the past has proven incapable ofhanling a delicate and resiliently deflectable plastic lid of ie typeherein described. It was found to be an essential :quirement of newlyinvented lidding machinery, that re plastic lids be supplied from astack retained in a lpply magazine, with the stack of lids nested inprecise acing with respect to each other, so that simple and liablemechanical devices could separate one lid at a time from the magazinestack. It is essential to the reliable operation of the lidding machinethat each single lid can be denested, usually from the bottom of thestack, without any unwanted snagging of the fixed lid above it.Previously known designs, using holes or minute projecting hooks, havepresented almost hopeless snarling problem-s for the lidding machine.Even the design of my parent application, Ser. No. 359,184, exhibited atendency towards unwanted interlocking if pushed too tightly intonesting relationship. If suflicient pressure is applied, the identicalinwardly-projecting latch hooks tend to slide over each other producingan interlock between one lid inside the other, which a lidding machinecannot handle by any practical means.

One of the major objects of the present invention, like that of theinvention of my parent application, Ser. No. 359,184, is to provide acarton for eggs or the like, which is constructed of a molded bottom,utilizing such material as paper pulp, foam plastic ,or the like; and aplastic lid, preferably blow-molded from a thin sheet of uniformthickness, in which combination great security of attachment betweenbottom and lid is achieved without resort to holes in either top orbottom and without resort to any fragile small protrusions from eitherlid or bottom.

However, a second and equally important major object of thiscontinuation-in-part application is to provide such a lid whichnaturally falls into precisely spaced nesting, and reliably denests froma nested stack within the magazine of an automatic lidding machine.

It is a further object of the invention to achieve a security ofattachment and a. precise nesting without employing any structurallyweak projections, without resort to any hinges, and without dependenceon any manual operations in handling the lid from molding machine tofinal assembly with a bottom filled with eggs.

It is another object of the invention to provide the foregoingadvantages in a cover and bottom combination which may be repeatedlyopened and closed by unskilled and careless persons without delay ordifficulty, and without deterioration in the attachment structure. Arelated object is to provide a carton in which the attachment parts ofthe paper pulp bottom are shielded from contact with the hands of theperson who is removing or replacing the cover. Thus, the paper pulpstructure, which is extremely vulnerable to moisture is not weakened inthose parts upon which the carton relies for security of attachment.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combination asdescribed in which the protective strength of the transparent plastictop, which is necessarily somewhat inferior to the molded pulp bottom incompression strength, is reinforced by supporting columns included inthe bottom structure, and by strengthening ridges in the plastic itself.

The carton of the new invention achieves the foregoing and many otherobjects and advantages by making use of the peculiar proper-ties of boththe non-resilient bottom, and the resiliently deformable lid. The bottomis formed with substantially rigid, double-walled partitions providingindividual cellular compartments for the eggs, and upwardly projectingconical columns for internal support of the resilient lid. Some of theseupwardly projecting columns are formed to function as latch hooks, butthey are not required to undergo any deformation whatever duringlatching and unlatching operations. Instead, deformation, for latchingand unlatching is achieved by lateral flexure of the long sides of theresilient lid.

The latch catches carried on the plastic lids of the invention areutterly unlike the fragile projections heretofore employed, since theydo not need to be resiliently deflected; instead, the present inventionemploys relatively strong and rigid shoulders, which serve as catchesunder the upwardly projecting latch hook columns of the bottom.

The latch hooks are formed as upwardly converging conical tubularmembers, which are disposed along the long sides of the bottom inoutwardly facing pairs. In the preferred embodiment, firm lockingengagement of the latch hooks with the catch shoulders on the interiorof the lid is assured by adjacent seating shoulders on top and bottom,which face oppositely to the corresponding surfaces at which the latchengagement occurs, and which are vertically spaced from thelatch-engaging plane, to assure security of attachment of the lid tobottom.

The introduction of the egg carton of the invention into egg packingplants has resulted in a major simplification and economy in thestocking of cartons and labels. Most egg packing plants must providepackaged eggs bearing house-brand labels for several different chainstore customers. Heretofore, labeling was by printing on the top surfaceof the carton lid. Consequently, the egg packing plant had to store hugeinventories comprised of many cartons, identical in every respect,except that they were printed with different brand names. Likewisedifferent printed cartons have usually been employed for different sizesand qualities of eggs. Workers tending egg packing machines have usuallyworked with huge tiers of cartons, one tier for each retailing customer,immediately adjacent the egg-packing machine. The machine operator hadto be ready to switch armloads of printed cartons, from hour to hour, aspacking was carried out for dilierent customers or different quantities.All this complexity is eliminated by the present invention. Nothing isprinted on the lid or bottom of the carton of the present invention, toindicate brand name or quality. Instead, all this information is printedpaper labels which are stored in convenient small stacks.

An automatic labeling machine, invented and designed especially for usewith the carton of the present invention, is supplied as an accessory tothe egg packaging machine. After the eggs are packed into the cartonbottom, the bottom passes under the automatic labeling machine, whichcontains a stack of paper labels, and which automatically removes onepaper label and places it on top of the eggs, prior to application ofthe transparent carton lid. The label is usually large enough to beclearly read through the lid, but small enough so as not to interferewith adequate inspection of the eggs through the transparent lid.Switching labels is easily accomplished by simply removing one smallpacket of labels from the labeling machines supply magazine andreplacing it with another small packet.

The present invention provides certain advantages in the application ofthe lid to the egg carton. A precisely spaced nested stack of lids aredeposited in the magazine of an automatic lidding machine, which can bemounted as an auxiliary on the existing automatic egg-packaging machinesused in the mass packing industry. As each bottom, having been filledwith eggs, passes through the egg packaging machine, it first receives alabel from the automatic labeling machine, and then passes to theautomatic lidding machine, and is covered with a transparent lid.

The covered and labeled carton of eggs may be conveniently inspected byvisual inspection at any time following lidding. This represents a vastimprovement in quality of inspection over that which is presentlypossible with opaque lids. In these presently used all-pulp cartons, thecarton must remain open in order that the contained eggs be inspected,:but the lid must be handled by the inspector in order for him toglimpse the brand and quality labeling on its top, while the carton isstill open. Of course, if inspection of the brand and quality on the topof the pulp lid is postponed until the carton is closed, the inspectioncan be done visually, but this second inspection gives no assurance thatthe eggs inside the carton (invisible now that the carton is closed)actually are as represented on the label.

After the cartons of eggs are removed from the egg packing machine, orautomatically as they are discharged from the egg packaging machine, thecartons are stacked, usually in stacks several wide, and with alternatelayers of cartons disposed at ninety degrees with respect to each other,in stacks several feet high. The carton of the present invention hasexhibited many superiorities over any previously known egg carton.Inspection of the condition of the contained eggs is possible throughthe transparent sides and ends of the lids, without disturbing orremoving any individual egg carton from a stack or series of stackswhich may contain hundreds of filled egg cartons. Inspection can beconveniently repeated at the point of delivery after truck transport, sothat misunderstandings between the egg packager and the retail storeabout the condition or specification of delivered goods can be avoided.

It will be noted that the lids in the preferred form of the inventionhave atop contour which is specially formed to closely accommodate thebase of the next pulp bottom above the lid in the stack of cartons. Thecellular compartments of the pulp bottoms present twelve cell bases,which seat, around their outer edges, on a flat shoulder, provided forthis purpose in the top of the lid, the bases being retained aroundtheir outer side Walls by the closely fitting contours of the lidsupwardly projecting peripheral shoulder.

In the event that broken eggs or rainwater produce unwanted liquid in astack of cartons of the present invention, penetration of this liquid islimited, since each layer of cartons is given some moisture protectionby the moisture-resistant plastic lids; this contrasts to the all-pulpcarton, in which moisture is likely to be carried from car-- ton tocarton, by the contacting pulp surfaces.

An important advantage of the present invention is that it provides amethod of sealing far superior to any of those heretofore known in eggpackaging. In the past, seals have usually been in the form of gluedpaper seals applied at one or both sides of the lid. The contents of thecarton could not be inspected without breaking the seal or ungluing it.On the other hand, unauthorized opening of the carton could often beconcealed by moistening and rescaling the unglued paper seal.

In the present invention, the preferred mode of sealing is applied by asealing means mounted in the egg packaging machine between the fillingof the bottom with eggs and the application of the transparent lid; theapplication of the sealing material may either precede, follow, or occursimultaneously with the placement of the label on the eggs by theautomatic labeling machine.

A sealing material is in the form of a liquid adhesive which is appliedto the tops of the central columns of the bottom (or to areas on theunderside of the lid which will be contacted by these columns afterlidding). While the sealing material is still moist, the lid is applied,and as drying occurs, an adhesive seal forms between the top of one ormore columns and the underside of the lid. Since the lid is transparent,it is unnecessary to break the seal in order to inspect the contents ofthe carton. Also, the condition of the seal can be inspected fromoutside the carton. The lid cannot be removed without breaking all theseals on all of the bottom columns which contact the lid. Moreover, oncethe seal is broken, it is almost impossible to counterfeit the originalseal; the second sealing will be revealed as an easily visible repair ofthe original seal.

The foregoing and many other advantages of the invention will beunderstood from the following description of one specific embodiment ofthe invention, when it is read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view, in approximately two-thirds of full scale, ofthe right half of a lid constructed according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of one quarter of the lid of theinvention, being that quarter which appears in the lower part of theillustration of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of one-quarter of a lid constructedaccording to the invention, being the quarter seen in plan view in theupper half of the illustration of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the lid of FIGURES 1 to 3;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the left half of a carton bottom designed tomate with the lid of FIGURES 1 to 4;

FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view of the carton bottom halfillustrated in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view of a bottom like FIG- URE 5 and lid likeFIGURE 1, viewed at a transverse central section indicated by thenumeral 7-7 in FIGURE 5, and shown stacked on top of a fragmentarilyillustrated lid;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the left half of a lid like that of FIGURES 1to 4, but with most details removed in order to illustrate the locationsat which the bottom of FIGURES 5 and 6 make contact with the undersidesof the lid;

FIGURE 9 is a front elevational view of a small section of the eggcarton of the invention, showing the lid latched to one of the latchcolumns of the bottom;

FIGURE 10 is a front elevational view of the left halves of two lids,showing the manner in which they nest one upon the other, prior to beingcombined with a carton bottom in a lidding machine;

FIGURE 11 is a transverse sectional view at the vertical plane indicatedby the arrows 1111 in FIGURE 10; and,

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view looking upwardly into the interior ofone quarter of the lid, showing the nest-spacing shoulders which projectdownwardly into the interior of the lid.

The illustrated embodiment of an egg carton constructed in accordancewith the invention is seen in sectional view in FIGURE 7, in which it isindicated by the numeral 20. However, the carton is best illustrated byillustrations of its two separate and only components, the resilientsheet plastic lid 21 (see the right-half plan view of FIGURE 1, and theend elevational view of FIGURE 4); and the substantially rigid moldedbottom 51 (see the plan and front elevational left-half views of FIGURES5 and 6, respectively). Only half views are used in the illustrations ofFIGURES 1, 5, and 6 since the opposite half is an identical mirrorimage; illustration of the entire lid or bottom would add nothing to thedisclosure and would unnecessarily increase the drawing area required.Also, illustrations of the assembled carton, with the lid snapped intoposition on the bottom, tend to conceal more than they reveal. FIGURES7, 8, and 9 show the assembled lid and bottom in transverse crosssection, plan view, and fragmentary front elevation, respectively. Theimportant features of the lid and bottom are best understood by adescription of them as separate components, followed by a description oftheir utility when filled with eggs, assembled, and stacked.

The right half plan view of FIGURE 1, and the one-quarter perspectiveviews of FIGURES 2 and 3, reveal that the principal features of the topof the lid are a horizontal stacking ledge 23, a downwardly dishedplatestructure 24, and a raised peripheral reinforcing shoulder 25.

It will be noted that all three of these features, ledge 23,dished-plate 24, and raised shoulder 25 follow the undulating outline ofdownwardly depending and outwardly flaring side walls 30. In theillustrated embodiment, these undulations perform several functions, butprincipally they follow the surface defined by the upper halves oftwelve separate cellular compartments 52 (see FIGURES 5 and 6) intowhich the molded bottoms 51 are divided in order to accommodate twelveeggs.

However, cellular compartmentation to accommodate ture of side walls 30.The plan, front elevation and transverse sectional views of the bottom511, seen in FIGURES 5, 6, and 7, respectively, show that the bottom isprominently featured by a plurality of upstanding vertical columns,formed of the molded bottom material in hollow cones or protuberances.The numeral 60 is used to designate these columns collectively, but itis important to distinguish between the four different types of columnswhich are actually employed:

Lid-support columns 61 are disposed in a row of five (in the particularembodiment) down the center of bottom 51. These columns push against theunderside of the downwardly dished-plate 2 4 'of lid 21, when the latterhas been assembled to the bottom 51 as illustrated in the transversesectional view of FIGURE 7.

Corner columns 63 are usually, but not necessarily, somewhat rectangularin cross-section downward, and project upwardly to provide some cornerreinforcements. However, it will be appreciated that the height of thesecolumns may vary all the way from mere protuberant stumps to the maximumheight illustrated, depending on forming properties of the moldedmaterials used in bottom 51, and also on adaptation to a particularpackage design.

Lid-seating columns 65 are mere low-elevation stumps in the preferredembodiment, and are distributed two on each of the long sides, and oneon each end of the bottom 51, in order to positively locate againstmating surfaces, to be described hereinafter, of the lid 21. Here again,it will be appreciated that the lid-seating columns might shrink to amere rflat plateau at the edge of the bottom 51, or be raised somewhathigher than the elevation illustrated, but preferably they establish aseating elevation, mating with the lid 21, which is lower than theelevation of the latching plane to be described hereinafter.

Latch columns 67 are disposed three on each long side of bottom 51, inthree pairs which co-act in the manner .to be described hereinafter. Itwill be seen that the two latch columns in a single pair, as forexample, latch columns 67a and 67b are directly opposite each othertransversely of the bottom 51, and have outwardly facing latch openings70.

The side walls 30 are formed with alternate outwardly and inwardlydisplaced wall portions which provide housing shells closelyaccommodating the packaged objects and in addition are formed withshells to accommodate the corner columns 63 and latch columns 67. Theoutwardly displaced wall structures may be described for the purposes ofthis specification and claims as shells (31, 33, and 37), and theinwardly displaced walls between shells may be described as compartmentpartitions 32.

Corner column shells 33 provide internal recesses 33a (see FIGURE 12)which closely accommodate the corner columns 63.

Compartment shells 31 and partitions 32 mate with bottom compartments 52to provide close protective accommodation for the eggs.

Latch column shells 37 provide an internal recess 37a (see FIGURE 12)which closely accommodate a latch column 67.

The lid-seating shoulders 35 form a flat undersurface 35a (see FIGURE12) which seats directly on the tops of the low elevation lid-seatingcolumns 65.

Latching of the lid 21 to the bottom 51 is accomplished by engagementbetween catches 39, one of which projects inwardly from the interior ofeach of the latch column shells 37, as seen in FIGURE 12. FIGURES 7 and9 illustrate how the catch 39 locks under the lips 68 of the column 67.

It will be noted from the front elevational fragmentary view of FIGURE9, that the catch 37 is closely received within a latch column 67, whichis seen in FIGURE 9 in dashed outline. Important features of catch 39are its upwardly and inwardly inclined lower surface 39a, which servesas a camming surface during the operation of lidding; and its uppercatch surface 3%, which curves downwardly to a horizontal tangent in thepreferred embodiment.

It will also be noted that neither the latch column 67 nor the catch 37need have any resilience whatever. Neither is intended to be deflectedduring latching and unlatching of the lid 21 to the bottom 51. It is theentire long sides 21a and 21b (see FIGURE 1) which are resilientlydeformably outwardly to permit latching and unlatching.

FIGURE 11 is a transverse sectional view of two lids 21c and 21d,identical to the lid 31 of FIGURE 1, and to each other, but illustratedas they appear in nested position. The importance of lid nesting, withprecise positioning, and precise nest spacing, has already beenemphasized; the lids must be nested for compact storage andtransportation; they must nest at a precise spacing in order to denestproperly in an automatic lidding ma chine. Although only two nested lids21c and 21d are illustrated, it will be appreciated that the usualnested stack will extend vertically for dozens of lids.

Since all the lids are identical, being formed in an identical mold, andsince they are resilient and flexible, they could be deformed intonesting surface to surface, with substantialy no spacing between them,if all the lids are oriented in the same direction. In order to achievethe precisely spaced nesting illustrated in FIGURE 11, the lids must beformed with nest-locating and nestspacing construction to be describedhereinafter, and each alternate lid must be oppositely oriented from itsneighbors.

The sliding of one lid into precise nesting position on another, so faras longitudinal and transverse locations are concerned, is accomplishedby means of inclined nesting planes 41 at the ends, and 42 at the sides.In the particular embodiment illustrated, there are two inclined planes42 on each side of the lid 21, and one inclined nesting plane 41 on eachend.

Precise nest spacing is achieved by means of nestspacing shoulders 43formed in the lids 21 and projecting inwardly as seen in the interiorperspective view of FIG- URE 12. The nest-spacing shoulders 43 aredistributed along the long sides 21a and 21b of the lid, and intersectperipheral reinforcing shoulder 25.

It is important that the nest-spacing shoulders be disposedasymmetrically along the long sides of lid 21 so that when one lid isswitched end for end with respect to the other, the nest-spacingshouders seat on the peripheral reinforcing shoulder 25 of the nextlower lid as illustrated in FIGURE 11. In the preferred embodimentillustrated, it will be seen from FIGURES l, 2, and 3 that one side ofthe lid 21 has six nest-spacing shoulders 43 (one in the side of each ofthe compartment shells 31 as illustrated in FIGURE 2), and the otherside has only five nest-spacing shoulders (one centered over each of theinwardly displaced partitions 32, as illustrated in FIGURE 3).

It is a preferred form of the invention to employ nestspacing shoulderswhich are substantially transverse, and which seat on substantiallylongitudinal shoulders upwardly projecting from the next lid beneath.However, it will be appreciated that a great variety of asymmetricalarrangements of nest-spacing shoulders could be employed in conjunctionwith the alternate oppsite orientation of nested lids. Furthermore,where alternate opposite orientation is undesirable for some reason, andthere is little or no danger of the nested lids being subjected tosufiicient stacking pressure so as to produce unwanted interlocking, amore approximate nest spacing might be accomplished simply by relying onprojections such as the nesting shoulders 43 or the catches 39, whichoffer some resistance to excessive nesting.

A slightly flaring skirt 49 downwardly depends around the lowerperiphery of lid 21. This skirt is not so long 19 as to interferencewith lid nesting; indeed, as may be observed from FIGURE 11, the skirtheight corresponds very nearly to the nest-spacing distance.Nevertheless, when the lid 21 is actually in place on bottom 51, theskirt 49 produces substantial closure, as seen in FIG- URES 7 and 9.

An inspection of the details of the bottom 51, illustrated in FIGURES 5,6, 7, and 9 reveal that the various columns 60 are formed substantiallyas inverted hollow cones. This type of construction provides thegreatest structural strength in a bottom molded out of paper pulp, stiffplastic foam, or similar material. Also, the compartments 5 2 areseparated by partitions 55, which are seen to be double-walled inFIGURES 6, 7 and 9.

FIGURE 8 represents a plan view of one-half, the left half, of anassembled carton 20. It will be seen through the transparent lid 21 thatthe corner columns 63, the lid support column 61, the latching columns67, and the -lidseating column 65, all make contact with theundersurface of lid 21. These points of contact make convenientlocations for the application of an adhesive or sealing compound. Forexample, such a compound may be applied to the tops of lid supportcolumn 61 just before the lid 21 is applied to the bottom 51. Such asealing contact may be designated in FIGURE 8 by the numeral 61a. Anycompound which will reveal subsequent unsealing may be employed. Forexample, an adhesive material which dries into a hard seal within a fewminutes will be seen through the transparent lid 21; if it is intact, itis an assurance that the carton has not been opened since the eggs wereoriginally packed. However, if someone has attempted to interchangeeggs, or otherwise tamper with the contents of the carton, a broken sealwill be visible through the transparent seal 21.

The design of the preferred embodiment illustrated adapts very well tothe stacking of full cartons, as may be seen from FIGURE 1. The bottomsof the compartments 52 seat on the stacking ledge 23 and are firmly heldin place around their edges by the shoulder 25.

The lid-support columns 61 co-operate with the downwardly dished-platestructure 24 to urge the sides 21a and 21b into latching engagement,particularly, when there is a downward pressure on the sides of the lid21, either from parts of a lidding machine which press on thereinforcing shoulder 25, or from the weight of egg cartons 20 stackedabove the lid 21.

It is an important preferred feature of the invention to insure securityof latching by spacing the elevation of the latching plane at lips 68above the elevation of the tops of the lid-seating column 65, a distancewhich closely corresponds to the distance between the catch 39 and theseating shoulder 35a. There must be just enough tolerance to permitlatching and unlatching, but the fit should be tight enough so thatunlatching will not occur unless someone uses his fingers to laterallydeform lid sides 21a and 21b outwardly.

It will be noted that the latching arrangements are distributed alongthe two long sides of an elongated carton, and that the latch columns 67are alternated with the lid-seating column 65.

Also, a peripheral skirt 49 receives substantial support at closelyspaced intervals along its entire length, because of bearing pointsagainst the sides of the various side columns 63, 65, and 67.

The cam-contoured shape of the catches 39 greatly facilitates latching.As the lid 21 is pressed down onto the bottom 51, the bearing of theupper ends of the latching columns 67 against the camming surfaces 39acause a smooth outward deformation of the sides 21a and 21b, untillatching position is reached, until the catches 39 suddenly spring intothe latch openings 70.

While I have described one preferred specific embodiment in great detailincluding its best presently known application in the packaging ofexactly one dozen eggs,

it will be understood that the foregoing description, so far as itsdetails are concerned is for the purpose of explaining the inventiononly, and not for the purpose of restricting the invention to thepreferred embodiment illustrated. On the contrary, it is intended toclaim as my invention all those variations, simplifications andmodifications which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A display carton for eggs and like objects, wherein lid and bottomparts mate for closure at a mating zone intermediate between the top andbottom of the packaged objects, which carton is comprised of:

an elongated bottom formed of relatively thick and rigid material, whichbottom comprises:

walls forming a plurality of cellular compartments for accommodating thelower parts of packaged objects;

a plurality of hollow vertical columns upwardly projecting above saidmating zone from said side walls of said compartments, and includinglid-support columns for bearing against the underside of said lid, and aplurality of latch columns on each of the long side walls of saidbottom, said latch columns being formed with outwardly facing hookstructures;

and an elongated lid formed of relatively thin and resiliently flexiblematerial, and mating for closure with said bottom at said mating plane,said lid including:

a top formed with a downwardly dished plate in the central portion, saidplate being adapted to rest on the upper ends of at least some of saidlid-support columns;

downwardly extending side walls permitting the resilient flexing of thelong side walls of said lid in a laterally outward direction;

catch shoulders formed in said long side walls of said lid, and inwardlyprojecting in pairs to make locking engagement with said hookstructures, whereby said lid can be snapped into tightly latched closedposition by resilient outward deflection of its side walls by engagementwith said latch columns as said lid is moved toward closure.

2. A display carton for eggs and like objects, wherein lid and bottomparts mate for closure at a mating zone intermediate between the top andbottom of the packaged objects, which carton is comprised of:

an elongated bottom formed of relatively thick and rigid material, whichbottom comprises:

walls forming a plurality of cellular compartments for accommodating thelower parts of packaged objects;

a plurality of hollow vertical columns upwardly projecting above saidmating zone from said side walls of said compartments, and includinglidsupport columns for hearing against the underside of said lid, and aplurality of latch columns on each of the long side walls of saidbottom, said latch columns being formed with outwardly facing hookstructures;

and an elongated lid formed of relatively thin and resiliently flexiblematerial, and mating for closure with said bottom at said mating plane,said lid including:

a top formed with a downwardly dished plate in the central portion, saidplate being adapted to rest on the upper ends of at least some of saidlid-support columns;

a plurality of downwardly projecting interior nestspacing shoulders;

downwardly extending side walls permitting the resilient flexing of thelong side walls of said lid in a laterally outward direction;

catch shoulders formed in said long side walls of said lid, and inwardlyprojecting in pairs to make locking engagement with said hookstructures, whereby said lid can be snapped into tightly latched closedposition by resilient outward deflection of its side walls by engagementwith said latch columns as said lid is moved toward closure.

3. A display carton for eggs and like objects, wherein lid and bottomparts mate for closure at a mating plane intermediate between the topand bottom of the packaged objects, which carton is comprised of:

an elongated bottom formed of relatively thick and rigid material, whichbottom comprises:

walls forming a plurality of cellular compartments for accommodating thelower parts of packaged objects;

a plurality of hollow vertical columns upwardly projecting above saidmating plane from said side walls of said compartments, and includinglid support columns for bearing against the underside of said lid, and aplurality of latch colums on each of the long side walls of said bottom,said latch columns being formed with outwardly facing hooks;

and an elongated lid formed of relatively thin, transparent, andresilient flexible material, and mating for closure with said bottom atsaid mating plane, said lid including:

a top formed with a downwardly dished plate on the central portion, saidplate being adapted to rest on the upper ends of at least some of saidlid-support columns;

downwardly extending side walls permitting the resilient flexing of thelong side walls of said lid in a laterally outward direction;

catch shoulders formed in said long side walls of said lid, and inwardlyprojecting in pairs to make locking engagement with said hookstructures, whereby said lid can be snapped into tightly latched closedposition by resilient outward deflection of its side walls by engagementwith said latch columns as said lid is moved toward closure.

4. A display carton for eggs and like objects, wherein lid and bottomparts mate for closure at a mating plane intermediate between the topand bottom of the packaged objects, which carton is comprised of:

an elongated bottom formed of relatively thick and rigid material, whichbottom comprises:

walls forming a plurality of cellular compartments for accommodating thelower parts of packaged objects;

a plurality of hollow vertical columns upstanding from said walls abovesaid mating plane, and including lid-support columns for bearing againstthe underside of the central area of a lid over said bottom, and aplurality of latch columns on each of the long side walls of saidbottom, said latch columns being oppositely paired with outwardly facingopenings;

and an elongated lid formed of relatively thin and resiliently flexiblematerial, and mating for closure with said bottom at said mating plane,said lid including:

a top formed with a downwardly dished plate in the central portion, saidplate being adapted to rest on the upper ends of at least some of saidlid-support columns;

a raised peripheral reenforcing shoulder around the periphery of saidtop, said shoulder following an undulating outline;

undulating side walls depending and downwardly diverging from saidreenforcing shoulder, outward undulations of said side walls forminginterior recesses to mate with said bottom com partments in theaccommodation of packaged objects;

a plurality of nest-spacing shoulders formed on each of two oppositelong sides of said elongated lid, to project downwardly from theinterior of the top of said lid, to establish nest-spacing of a nestedassembly of said lids, said shoulders pressed on to said bottom, theupper sides of said catches being formed to spring into catchment withinsaid latch columns when said lid seats on said bottom, and the tops ofat least some of said lid-support columns press against the underside ofsaid dished plate, to exert a resilient latching force on said lid.

6. A display carton for eggs and like objects, wherein lid and bottomparts mate for closure at a mating plane intermediate between the topand bottom of the packaged objects, which carton is comprised of:

an elongated bottom formed of relatively thick and rigid material whichbottom comprises:

walls forming a plurality of cellular compartbeing asymmetricallyarranged in opposite disposition;

and inwardly projecting catch members formed in the side walls of saidlid and mating with each of said latch columns, the upper sides of saidcatches being formed to spring into catchment within said latch columnswhen said lid seats o aid botto 15 ments for accommodating the lowerparts of 5. A display carton for eggs and like objects, wherein P g llid and bottom parts mate for closure at a mating plane a plurality f hl w Verti al columns upstanding from said walls above said mating plane,and including lid-support columns for bearing against the underside ofthe central area of a lid over said bottom, and a plurality ofintermediate between the top and bottom of the packaged objects, whichcarton is comprised of:

an elongated bottom formed of relatively thick and rigid material, whichbottom comprises:

walls forming a plurality of cellular compartments for accommodating thelower parts of packaged objects;

latch columns on each of the long side walls of said bottom, said latchcolumns being oppositely paired with outwardly facing opena plurality ofhollow vertical columns upstanding from said walls above said matingplane, and inf? elongatefi 11d fofll'led f relati ely thin and cjuding1id u -t columns f bearing against resiliently flexible material,andmating for closure the underside of the central area of a lid oversaid Yvlth botwm at Said mating P aid lid bottom, and a plurality oflatch columns on mcludlng: each of the long side walls of said bottom,said a top formed a downwardly clllshed Plate 1H latch columns beingoppositely pail-ed with the central portion, said plate being adapted towardly facing openings; rest on the upper ends of at least some of saidand an elongated lid formed of relatively thin and PP columns;

resiliently flexible material, and mating for closure a Stackmg ledgearound Sald d wnwardly dished with said bottom at said mating plane,said lid in- Plate for Support adlacent bOttO'm f a eluding; like cartonabove said lid, when a plurality of a top formed with a downwardlydished plate in the central portion, said plate being adapted to rest onthe upper ends of at least some of said said cartons are verticallystacked;

.a raised peripheral reenforcing shoulder around the periphery of saidtop, said shoulder follid-support columns; 40 lowing an undulatingoutline to accommodate a raised peripheral reenforcing shoulder aroundthe cellular constructions of an ad acent botthe periphery of said top,said shoulder foltom 9 a Stackmg ledge} lowing an undulating outline;undulating side walls depending and downwardly undulating side wallsdepending and downwardly dlvergmg m Sald TEFHfQYCiHg Shouldel} ldiverging from said reenforcing shoulder, out- 4 Wa rd undulatlons ofsaid formlllg ward undulations of said side walls forming tenor IeCeQSeSto mate Wlth sefld bottom $0111- interior recesses to mate with saidbottom compaltments 111 the m datlOn of packaged partments in theaccommodation of packaged oblects} objects; a plurality of downwardlydiverging inclined a plurality of downwardly diverging inclined P m Saldl F P F lfemg P F planes in said walls, said planes being dison PP fl$a1 d11( 1a11dPf0V1dposed in pairs on opposite sides of said lid and k P1 for Shdlng Sald llds 1I1t0 116stproviding guide planes for slidingsaid lids into mg PQSIHOH with h other; nssting position with edchother; a plurality of nest-spacing shoulders formed on a plurality ofnest-spacing shoulders formed on each two PPP 10mg Sides of Sald 9 eachof two opposite long sides of said elongatPd 11d, to P J QWnyvardly fromthe ingated hd, to project downwardly from the tenor of the top of saidlid, to establish nestterior of the top of said lid, to establishnestspaclng of a nested assel'Qbly of 531d Said spacing of a nestedassembly of said lids, said P y trlcally arranged in opshoulders beingasymmetrically arranged in Poslte dlsposltlon; Opposite disposition; adownwardly depending flange sk rt around the a downwardly dependingflange skirt around the lower pelilpherfjll g f Said lid, for matinglower peripheral edge of said lid, for mating Wlth F bottom F saldmatfng P closure with said bottom at said mating plane; a plurality of Yp i n g $110111- a plurality of inwardly projecting seating shouldersformfad 111 the sldes of said lid around the ders formed in the sides ofsaid lid around FY thereof, above Sald Skirt, for the lower peripherythereof, above said skirt, seafmg on sald bo ttom f seating on saidbottom; and inwardly pro ecting catch members formed and inwardlyprojecting Catch members formed in the side Walls of said lid and matingwith each in the side walls of said lid and mating with of 331d latchcolumns, each of 531d catch each of said latch columns, each of saidcatch f havmg a downwardly and Qutwardly membars having a downwardly andoutwardly cl ned plane undersurface to function as a cam inclined planeundersurface to function as a Surface f Yeslllenfly deform the g Sides aurfa a d resiliently def th l of said lid outwardly when said lid ispressed on sides of said lid outwardly when said lid is to said bottom,the upper sides of said catches being formed to spring into catchmentwithin said latch columns when said lid seats on said bottom, and thetops of at least some of said lid-support columns being adapted to pressagainst the underside of said dished plate, to exert a resilientlatching force on said lid.

7. A display carton for eggs and like objects, wherein lid and bottomparts mate for closure at a mating plane intermediate between the topand bottom of the packaged objects, and thereby form a plurality ofcellular compartments for closely accommodating packaged objects, whichcarton is comprised of:

an elongated bottom formed of relatively thick rigid material andincluding:

upwardly extending side Walls comprising partitions forming a pluralityof compartments, upstanding hollow columns for providing internalsupport to a lid, at least some of said columns providing centralsupport to a lid;

upstanding hollow latch columns located in opposing pairs on oppositelong sides of said elongated bottom, said latch columns being formed toprovide outwardly overhanging hook means at a latching plane spacedabove said mating plane,

and an elongated lid fitting over said bottom and mating for closurewith it at said mating plane, said lid being formed of a sheet ofrelatively thin and resiliently flexible material, and including:

a substantially horizontal top disposed over the packaged objects, saidtop being formed with a downwardly dished plate along its centralportion for bearing on the upper ends of said central support columnswhen said lid is in position on said bot tom,

enclosing walls downwardly diverging from said top, said side Wallsbeing corrugated into alternate ridges and grooves, the ridges forminginterior recesses mating with said bottom compartments and adapted toaccommodate packaged objects,

a skirt on the lower periphery of said lid downwardly depending fromsaid lid-seating plane, to provide substantial closure with said bottom;

an upwardly projecting reenforcing shoulder formed around the peripheryof said substantially horizontal top, said upwardly projecting shoulderfollowing an undulating path corresponding to said corrugated sidewalls;

catch shoulders formed in the long side walls of said lid and inwardlyprojecting in pairs at said latching plane to make locking engagementwith said latch columns, whereby said top can be snapped into a tightlylatched closed position by resilient outward deflection of its sidewalls;

nesting planes formed in side walls and downwardly diverging in pairs onopposite sides of said lid at at least some of said grooved parts ofsaid side walls, said stacking planes being adapted to smoothly receivein nesting contact a similar lid;

and nest-spacing shoulders formed in the top portions of said lid, andforming interior downwardly projecting abutments disposed substantiallytransversely to said reenforcing shoulder, and adapted to seat, on thereenforcing shoulder of an adjacent nested lid.

8. A display carton for eggs and like objects, wherein lid and bottomparts mate for closure at a mating plane intermediate between the topand bottom of the packaged objects, and thereby form a plurality ofcellular compartments for closely accommodating packaged objects, whichcarton is comprised of:

an elongated bottom formed of relatively thick rigid material andincluding:

upwardly extending side walls comprising partitions forming a pluralityof compartments, upstanding hollow columns for providing internal 1 6support to a lid, at least some of said columns providing centralsupport to a lid;

upstanding hollow latch columns located in opposing pairs on oppositelong sides of said elongated bottom, said latch columns being formed toprovide outwardly overhanging hook means at a latching plane spacedabove said mating plane,

lid-seating structures disposed along the upper periphery of said bottombetween said latch columns said seating structures having substantiallyhorizontal seating surfaces located at a lid-seating plane above saidmating plane, but below said latching plane;

and an elongated lid fitting over said bottom and mating for closurewith it at said mating plane, said lid being formed of a sheet ofrelatively thin and resiliently flexible material, and including:

a substantially horizontal top disposed over the packaged objects, saidtop being formed with a downwardly dished plate along its centralportion for hearing on the upper ends of said central support columnswhen said lid is in position on said bottom,

enclosing walls downwardly diverging from said top, said side wallsbeing corrugated into alternate ridges and grooves, the ridges forminginterior recesses mating with said bottom compartments and adapted toaccommodate packaged objects,

a skirt on the lower periphery of said lid downwardly depending fromsaid lid-seating plane, to provide substantial closure with said bottom;

a seating shoulder formed in said lid near said skirt for seating onsaid lid-seating structures,

an upwardly projecting reenforcing shoulder formed around the peripheryof said substan tially horizontal top, said upwardly projecting shoulderfollowing an undulating path corresponding to said corrugated sidewalls;

catch shoulder formed in the long side walls of said lid and inwardlyprojecting in pairs at said latching plane to make locking engagementwith said latch columns, whereby said top can be snapped into a tightlylatched closed position by resilient outward deflection of its sideWalls;

nesting planes formed in said side walls and downwardly diverging inpairs on opposite sides of said lid at at least some of said groovedparts of said side walls, said stacking planes being adapted to smoothlyreceive in nesting contact a similar lid;

and nest-spacing shoulders formed in the top portions of said lid andforming interior downwardly projecting abutments disposed substantiallytransversely to said reenforcing shoulder, and adapted to seat, on thereenforcing shoulder of an adjacent nested lid.

9. A display carton for eggs and like objects, wherein lid and bottomparts mate for closure at a mating plane intermediate between the topand bottom of the packaged objects, and thereby form a plurality ofcellular compartments for closely accommodating packaged objects, whichcarton is comprised of:

1 7 to provide outwardly overhanging hook means at a latching planespaced above said mating plane,

and an elongated 'lid fitting over said bottom and mating for closurewith it at said mating plane, said lid being formed of a sheet ofrelatively thin, and resiliently flexible material, and including:

a substantially horizontal top disposed over the packaged objects, saidtop being formed with a downwardly dished plate along its centralportion for bearing on the upper ends of said central support columnswhen said lid is in position on said bottom,

enclosing walls downwardly diverging from said top, said walls beingcorrugated into alternate ridges and grooves, the ridges torminginterior recesses mating with said bottom compartments and adapted toaccommodate packaged objects,

an upwardly projecting reenforcing shoulder formed around the peripheryof said substantially horizontal top, said upwardly projecting shoulderfollowing an undulating path corresponding to said corrugated sidewalls;

catch shoulders formed in the long side walls of said lid and inwardlyprojecting in pairs at said latch plane to make locking engagement withsaid latch columns, whereby said top can be snapped into a tightlylatched closed position by resilient outward deflection of its sidewalls;

nesting planes formed in said side Walls and downwardly diverging inpairs on opposite sides of said lid at at least some of said groovedparts of said side walls not occupied by said latch means, said stackingplanes being adapted to smoothly receive in nesting contact a similarlid;

and nest-spacing shoulders formed in the top portions of said lid, andforming interior downwardly projecting abutments adapted to seat on thereenforcing shoulder of an adjacent nested lid, said nest-spacingabutments being disposed in the grooves above one side of said lid, andabove the ridges on the other side, to effect spaced nesting when saidlids are nested in alternately opposite longitudinal disposition.

10. A display carton for eggs and like objects, wherein lid and bottomparts mate :for closure at a mating plane intermediate between the topand bottom of the packaged objects, which carton is comprised of:

an elongated bottom formed of relatively thick and rigid material, whichbottom comprises:

walls forming a plurality of cellular compartments for accommodating thelower parts of packaged objects;

a plurality of hollow vertical columns disposed around each of saidcompartments, and upstanding from the side walls thereof above saidmating plane, and including lid-support columns for bearing against theunderside of the central area of a lid over said bottom,

and a plurality of latch columns on each of the long side walls of saidbottom, said latch columns being formed with outwardly facing hookopenings, and being disposed in opposite facing I pairs;

and an elongated lid formed of relatively thin and resiliently flexiblematerial, and mating for closure with said bottom at said mating plane,said lid including:

a raised peripheral reenforcing shoulder around the periphery of saidtop, said shoulder following an undulating outline to accommodate thestacking of an adjacent bottom on said stacking ledge;

undulating side walls depending and downwardly diverging from saidreenforcing shoulder,

a plurality of nest-spacing shoulders formed on each of two oppositelong sides of said elongated lid, to project downwardly from theinterior of the top of said lid, to establish nest-spacing of a seriesof said lids in nested assembly, said shoulders being asymmetricallyarranged on the opposite long sides of said lid so as to benoncoincidental 'with each other when said lids are nested in alternateopposite disposition;

inwardly projecting catch members formed in the side walls of said lidand mating with each of said latch columns, each of said catch membershaving a downwardly and outwardly inclined plane undersurface tofunction as a cam surface and resiliently deform the long sides of saidlid outwardly when said lid is pressed on to said bottom, and the uppersides of said catches being formed to spring into catchment within thehook openings of said latch columns, when said lid seats on said bottom,and the tops of said lid-support columns press against the underside ofsaid dished plate, to exert a resilient latching action on said lidstructure.

11. A display carton for eggs and like objects, wherein lid and bottomparts mate for closure at a mating plane intermediate between the topand bottom of the packaged objects, which carton is comprised of:

an elongated bottom formed of relatively thick and rigid material, whichbottom comprises:

walls forming a pluralityof cellular compartments for accommodating thelower parts of packaged objects;

a plurality of hollow vertical columns disposed around each of saidcompartments, and upstanding from the side walls thereof above saidmating plane, and including lid-support columns for bearing against theunderside of the central area of a lid over said bottom,

lid-seating columns disposed along the side walls of said bottom forseating against the lower side walls of said lid;

and a plurality of latch columns on each of the long side walls of saidbottom, said latch columns being formed with outwardly facing hookopenings, and being disposed in opposite facing P and an elongated lidformed of relatively thin and resiliently flexible material, and matingfor closure with said bottom at said mating plane, said lid including:

a top formed with a downwardly dished plate in the central portion, saidplate being adapted to rest on the upper ends of said lid-supportcolumns;

a raised peripheral reenforcing shoulder around the periphery of saidtop, said shoulder following an undulating outline to accommodate thestacking of an adjacent bottom on said stacking ledge;

undulating side walls depending and downwardly diverging from saidreenforcing shoulder;

a plurality of downwardly diverging inclined planes formed in said wallsand disposed in pairs on opposite sides of said lid and providing guideplanes for sliding said lids into nesting assembly with each other;

a plurality of nest-spacing shoulders formed on each of two oppositelong sides of said elongated lid, to project downwardly from theinterior of the top of said lid, to establish nest-spacing of a seriesof said lids in nested assembly, said shoulders being asymmetricallyarranged on the opposite long sides of said lid so as to benoncoincidental with each other when said lids are nested in alternateopposite disposition;

1 9 a plurality of inwardly projecting seating shoulders formed in thesides of said lid around the lower periphery thereof for seating on saidlid-seating columns;

lower periphery thereof for seating on said lidseating columns;

inwardly projecting catch members formed in the side walls of said lidand mating with each of inwardly projecting catch members formed in thesaid latch columns, each of said catch members side Walls of said lidand mating with each of having a downwardly and outwardly inclined saidlatch columns, each of said catch members plane undersurface to functionas a cam surface having a downwardly and outwardly inclined andresiliently deform the long sides of said lid plane undersurface tofunction as a cam surface outwardly when said lid is pressed on to saidand resiliently deform the long sides of said lid 10 bottom, and theupper sides of said catches outwardly when said lid is pressed on tosaid being formed to spring into catchment within bottom, and the uppersides of said catches the hook openings of said latch columns, whenbeing formed to spring into catchment within the said lid seats on saidbottom, and the tops of hook openings of said latch columns, when saidsaid lid-support columns press against the underlid seats on saidbottom, and the tops of said side of said dished plate, toexertaresilientlatchlid-support columns press against the underside ingaction on said lid structure.

13. A display carton for eggs and like objects, whereaction on said lidstructure. in lid and bottom parts mate for closure at a mating plane Ap y carton for eggs and like j wherein intermediate between the top andbottom of the packaged lid and bottom parts mate for closure at a matingplane objects, which carton is comprised of: intermediate between thetop and bottom of the packaged an elongated bottom formed of relativelythick and objects, which carton is comprised of: rigid material, whichbottom comprises:

of said dished plate, to exert a resilient latching an elongated bottomformed of relatively thick and rigid material, which bottom comprises:

walls forming a plurality of cellular compartments for accommodating thelower parts of packaged objects; a plurality of hollow vertical columnsdisposed around each of said compartments, and upstandwalls forming aplurality of cellular compartments for accommodating the lower parts ofpackaged objects;

a plurality of hollow vertical columns disposed around each of saidcompartments, and upstanding from the side walls thereof above saidmating plane, and including lid-support columns ing from the side wallsthereof above said mating for bearing against the underside of thecentral plane, and including lid-support columns for area of a lid oversaid bottom, bearing against the underside of the central area cornercolumns for projecting upwardly into the of a lid over said bottom,interior of the corners of said lid;

lid-seating columns disposed along the side walls lid-seating columnsdisposed along the side walls of said bottom for seating against thelower side of said bottom for seating against the lower walls of saidlid; side walls of said lid;

and a plurality of latch columns on each of the and a plurality of latchcolumns on each of the long side walls of said bottom, said latch 001-long side walls of said bottom, said latch columns umns being formedwith outwardly facing hook being formed with outwardly facing hookopenopenings, and being disposed in opposite facing ings, and beingdisposed in opposite facing pairs;

pairs;

and an elongated lid formed of relatively thin and resiliently flexiblematerial, and mating for closure with said bottom at said mating plane,said lid including:

a top formed with a downwardly dished plate in the central portion, saidplate being adapted to rest on the upper ends of said lid-supportcolumns;

a top formed with a downwardly dished plate in the central portion, saidplate being adapted to rest on the upper ends of said lid-supportcolumns, and a stacking ledge around said downa raised peripheralreenforcing shoulder around wardly dished plate for support of theadjacent the periphery of said top, said shoulder following surfaces ofthe bottom of a like carton above an undulating outline to accommodatethe stacksaid lid; when a plurality of said cartons are ing of anadjacent bottom on said stacking ledge; vertically stacked;

undulating side walls depending and downwardly a raised peripheralreenforcing shoulder around diverging from said reenforcing shoulder,the periphery of said top, said shoulder followa plurality of downwardlydiverging inclined ing an undulating outline to accommodate the planesformed in said walls and disposed in pairs stacking of an adjacentbottom on said stacking on opposite sides of said lid and providingguide ledge; planes for sliding said lids into nesting assemundulatingside walls depending and downwardly bly with each other; diverging fromsaid reenforcing shoulder, outa plurality of nest-spacing shouldersformed on ward undulations of said side walls forming each of twoopposite long sides of the said interior recesses to mate with saidbottom comelongated lid, to project downwardly from the partments in theaccommodation of packaged interior of the top of said lid, to establishnestobjects, and other outward undulations of said spacing of a seriesof said lids in nested assemside walls forming interior recesses for thebly, said shoulders being asymmetrically araccommodation of said cornercolumns and said ranged on the opposite long sides of said lid solatching columns; as to be non-coincidental with each other when aplurality of downwardly diverging inclined said lids are nested inalternate opposite displanes formed in said walls and disposed inposition; pairs on opposite sides of said lid and providing a downwardlydepending flange skirt around the guide planes for sliding said lidsinto nesting lower peripheral edge of said lid, for mating assembly witheach other; with said bottom at said mating plane; a plurality ofnest-spacing shoulders formed on 'a plurality of inwardly projectingsealing shouleach of two opposite long sides of said elonders formed inthe sides of said lid around the gated lid, to project downwardly fromth i terior of the top of said lid, to establish nestspacing of a seriesof said lids in nested assembly, said shoulders being asymmetricallyarranged on the opposite long sides of said lid so as to benon-coincidental with each other when said lids are nested in alternateopposite disposition;

a downwardly depending flange skirt around the lower peripheral edge ofsaid lid, for mating with said bottom at said mating plane;

a plurality of inwardly projecting seating shoulders formed in the sidesof said lid around the lower periphery thereof for seating on saidlid-seating columns;

inwardly projecting catch members formed in the side Walls of said lidand mating with each of said latch columns, each of said catch membershaving a downwardly and outwardly inclined plane undersurface tofunction as a cam surface and resiliently deform the long sides of saidlid 20 outwardly when said lid is pressed on to said bottom, and theupper sides of said catches being formed to spring into catchment withinthe hook openings of said latch columns, when said lid seats on saidbottom, and the tops of said lidsupport columns press against theunderside of said dished plate, to exert a resilient latching action onsaid lid structure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,563,157 8/ 1951Castelli.

2,885,136 5/1959 Grant 2292.5 2,961,123 11/1960 Boydak et al. 229292,974,842 3/ 1961 Reifers 22929 X 3,034,693 5/1962 Cox 2292.5 3,163,34512/1964 Schwertferger 22929 3,164,478 1/1965 Bostrom 2292.5 X

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

D. M. BOCK'ENEK, Assistant Examiner.

2. A DISPLAY CARTON FOR EGGS AND LIKE OBJECTS WHEREIN LID AND BOTTOMPARTS MATE FOR CLOSURE AT A MATING ZONE INTERMEDIATE BETWEEN THE TOP ANDBOTTOM OF THE PACKAGE OBJECTS, WHICH CARTON IS COMPRISED OT: ANELONGATED BOTTOM FORMED OF RELATIVELY THICK AND RIGID MATERIAL, WHICHBOTTOM COMPRISES: WALLS FORMING A PLURALITY OF CELLULAR COMPARTMENTS FORACCOMODATING THE LOWER PARTS OF PACKAGED OBJECTS; A PLUALITY OF HOLLOWVERTICAL COLUMNS UPWARDLY PROJECTING ABOVE SAID MATING ZONE FROM SAIDSIDE WALLS OF SAID COMPARTMENTS, AND INCLUDING LIDSUPPORT COLUMNS FORBEARING AGAINST THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID LID, AND A PLURALITY OF LATCHCOLUMNS ON EACH OF THE LONG SIDE WALLS OF SAID BOTTOM, SAID LATCHCOLUMNS BEING FORMED WITH OUTWARDLY FACING HOOK STRUCTURES; AND ANELONGATED LID FORMED OF RELATIVELY THIN AND RESILIENTLY FLEXIBLEMATERIAL, AND MATING FOR CLOSURE WITH SAID BOTTOM AT SAID MATING PLANE,SAID LID INCLUDING: A TOP FORMED WITH A DOWNWARDLY DISHED PLATE IN THECENTRAL PORTION, SAID PLATE BEING ADAPTED TO REST ON THE UPPER ENDS OFAT LEAST SOME OF SAID LID-SUPPORT COLUMNS; A PLURALITY OF DOWNWARDLYPROJECTING INTERIOR NESTSPACING SHOULDERS;